Car-starter



(No Model.)

H. 0. PERCY.

GAR STARTER.

No. 350,989. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

WITNESSES V'EN TOR J 4 06M /6 I y? \57 UNITED FFICEO HARRY lERii/Y, OF NATCHITOUHES, LOUISIANA..

CAR-STARTER.

FEPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,989, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed August 9, 1886. Serial No. 30,435.

To rtZZ 1071,0721, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hinnv C. Pnacv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Natchitoches, in the parish of Natchitoches, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Starters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in car-starters; and it has for its objects to provide devices whereby the wheels of the car may be initially moved in order to start the same without undue strain upon the draft animals, and to permit the car to be gradually put in motion, so as to prevent the jar usually accompanying the sudden starting of the cars, as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a car-truck, showing my improved starting device in position to be applied for starting the car. Fig. 2 represents a similar view showing the starting device after being applied to start the car; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the car-truck, showing the starting devices; and Fig. :l-, a perspective view of one of the ion gitudinally-moving bars and the pawls and limitingpins by which the cogged wheels of the starting devices are OpGltll'etl.

in the said drawings, the letter A indicates the truck or lower framework of the car, and B the axles, which are journaled in the usual bearings or boxes, C, at each side.

0 indicates the ordinary springs interposed between the bearing-boxes and their seats.

The letter D indicates a series of cogged wheels, which are preferably formed separately and bolted or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the flanged wheels E of the car, although they may be cast integral with said wheels. The wheels are keyed or otherwise fastened to the axles so as to turn with them, in the usual manner, when the car is started or after it is in motion.

The letter F indicates two longitudinal bars, which are supported in hangers G at each side of the truck, and which are capable of alongitudinal movement therein. The said bars are provided with pivoted pawls ll, of sufiicient (N'o model.)

abutting at the ends against the supportingbearings before mentioned. About midway between the ends of said springs are located the pins or studs L, which are secured to and form part of the longitudinal bars, and serve to hold and return the same to a normal position. The bars are rectangular in cross-section, so that they will travel truly and not turn in their bearings, and at each end have attached to them the trace-chains M, by means of which the draft portions of the harness of the team may be attached.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The parts being in the position as shown in Fig. 1, and the draft-animals properly hitched to' the trace-chains, upon starting they will move the bars longitudinally, compressing the springs in order to return said bars to normal position when the draft is withdrawn or released. The draft being thus gradually applied will permit the car to start gently on its initial movement, and thus obviate the jar consequent upon the usual sudden starting. The pawls at the rear or front of the wheels, as the case may be, as the bars are drawn upon longitudinally, engage the cogged wheels and move them initially, the leverage thus ob tained starting the car without undue strain upon the animal or animals drawing it. \Vhen thus started, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and maintain such position so long as the draft is applied. Upon stopping, the springs throw the parts automatically into normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, ready to act again upon nextstarting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the truck, of the longitudinally-movable bars having the pawls and i In testimony whereof I affix my signature in steps secured thereto, the hangers G, coiled spring K, having its ends abutting the said hangers, the pin L, secured to and centrally 5 located on the bar F midway in the spring, and \Vitnesses:

the cogged wheels D, substantially as de- J NO. LAPFAOE,

scribed, and for the purposes set forth. H. 13. VVALMSLY.

presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY G. PERCY. 

